Collingwood and Geelong unveiled their “banger” pre-game initiative on Thursday night, which saw them run out on-field to warm up significantly later than usual.
In a radical change to the traditional AFL warm-up routine, both clubs ran through their respective banners just minutes before the opening siren in an entertaining twist for a packed-out MCG crowd.
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It was the Magpies who ran out onto the ground first, bypassing their usual club anthem for a remix of ‘Heads Will Roll’ by Protostar; a tune adopted in internet meme approximately nine years ago.
“We’re in the entertainment industry here. Even warming up in the dark is a little bit weird as well,” three-time Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt told Fox Footy as the hosts warmed up.
“They’ve only got a couple of minutes before the ball goes up!
“This is one of the moments as an ex-player where you sort of wish you were out there and involved in something like this. A good track as well from the Cats!”
The song Riewoldt was referring to is ‘Kernkraft 400’, by Zombie Nation, an iconic anthem most famously tied to American college football side Penn State.
Given the coin toss also occurs just minutes before the first ball-up, the captains from both sides met in the changerooms pre-game to decide which team would have first way on the end they want to kick to.
“I think this is really exciting. Another new innovation!” two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King said before both teams ran out.
The initiative was warmly praised online, noting the entertainment for fans in this instance has merit above almost everything
else.
At quarter time, Geelong led Collingwood by four goals, before kicking nine of the first 10 majors for the night.
“The two-minute warm-up’s dead for Collingwood. They’re not doing that again … chuck that one in the trash can!” Riewoldt added tongue-in-cheek after the Cats’ ninth goal.